One-piece footboard



C. W. MELDRUM. ONE-PIECE F00TB0ARD.

APPLICATION FILED-MAR. a. 1920.

, Patenfed Feb 28,1922. v

1 INVENTOR ('laroizwfleldrzlm.

L ML ATTORNEY.

UNITED, STATES CLAIR/ON MELDRUM, OF OCEAN PARK; CALIFORNIA.

' ONE-PIECE FOOTBOARD.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Feb, 28, 1922.

'Application'filed March 3, '1920. Serial No. 362,936.

Toallwhomitmayconcem:

Be it known that I, CLARON W. MELDRUM, a citizen of the United States, residing at OceanPark, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented a new and useful Improvement in One-Piece Footboards, of which the following is a .specification.

' vehicles.

This invention relates to a one-piece foot board and particularly to foot boards such as areemployed in automobiles and similar Most foot boards employed on automobiles of the Ford type and the like are constructed in two sections. The necessity of such construction results from the fact that the foot pedals, gear shift, levers, etc, project through the board and thereby prevents insertion or removal and therefore necessitates sectional construction to permit insertion or removal of the foot board. A sectional foot board is objectionable for several reasons: First of all it presents difliculties such as fitting, it produces rattle, and it often happens, for instance in Ford automobiles, that the upper section will slide under the lower section and. thereby lockthe clutch pedal in high gear. Other foot boards have been constructed in which a square section is cut out in register with the foot pedals- This permits the board to be inserted and removed, but it necessitates the use of a sectional cover plate which must be bolted or otherwise fastened to the foot board. Such construction is also objectionable due to increased cost of manufacture, and also due to the fact that the bolts or other securing means employed are liable to work loose and become lost.

Another objection regarding the plate just referred to is the fact that it is difiicult to insert or place when the foot board is in position.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a one-piece foot board which first of all avoids sectional construction, and secondly the provision of an opening and a cover plate therefor. In other words I provide a foot board which is strictly a onepiece foot board, and on which cover plates, bolts or other means are entirely eliminated.

Another feature of the invention is to provide a series of openings and communicating slots which are adapted to register with the foot pedals and which permit ready insertion and removal of the foot board with! out in any way disturbing the pedals or attached mechanism. 7

Another feature of the invention is to provide a flexible cover plate which may be secured either to the upper or lower side of the foot board and which isslitted in alignment with the pedal slots to permit free movement of the pedals therein.

The invention consists of theparts. and the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter morefu'lly described and claimed, having reference, to the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a plan view of the foot board. Fig. 2 is a cross section on line 2,-2,-Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows the application of the invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail,;A indicates a foot board of miitable thickness and size to fit the space formed between the dashboard and the main bottom part of the car, or in other words, the space below the instrument board where the foot pedalsand clutchlever, etc., are positioned. The present foot board is especially designed for Ford cars. It is provided with three openings such as indicated at 2,3 and 4, and with communicating slots 5. The opening 2 is cut at a point where it will align or register with the clutch pedal; the opening 3 where it will align withthe reverse pedal and the opening 4 where it will align with the brake pedal, the slots 5 communicating with said openings being sufficiently long to permit free movement of the pedals when these are operated. The board is otherwise slotted as indicated at 6, 7, 8 and; 9 topermit passage of the speedometer, flexible shaft and other attachments.

If it is desired to remove the foot board here shown it is only necessary to lock the emergency brake. This throws the clutch pedal forward into register with the opening 2. The reverse pedal and brake pedal when released, assume positions in alignment with the openings 3 and 4, and it is therefore only necessary to lift the board in an upward direction and to clear the pedals and this without removing the same or any other attachments. Application of the board is accomplished in a similar manner.

For the purpose of excluding heat and dust I provide a flexible covering 10. This covering is in the. form of a plate and may be constructed of rubber or other similar material. The plate is attached in any suit able manner, for instance by tacks, screws or any other suitable means and may be secured to the upper or lower side of the board.

For the purpose of permitting free movementof the pedals I slit the plate at three points as indicated at 11, 12 and 13, the slit 11 registering with the opening 2 and communicating slot; the slit 12 registering With the opening 3 and communicating slot, and the slit 13 with the opening 4 and comin-unicating slot, and as the material of which the plate is constructed is flexible or resilient, it is obvious that it'will not interfere with the insertion or removal of the board. The quality of the material-is however such that when the board is in position, a snug contact is made with the res ective foot pedals and dust and grit is t erefore excluded.

From the foregoing it can be seen that a foot board has been provided which can be readily insert-ed or removed without in any manner disturbing the foot pedals or attached mechanism and without employing removable cover plates, clamps, screws and the like. The cost of manufacture is thereby reduced, rattle is avoided, and loss of detachable parts similarly prevented. In fact the objections referred to in connection with other removable foot boards are all avoided by the present structure.

While thepresent board is particularly designed for Ford automobiles, it is obvious that it may be altered to suit other installations, and while the design here shown is more or less specific, I wish it understood that changes may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims, similarly that the materials and finish of the several parts employed may be such as the experience and judgment of the manufacturer may dietate or varying conditions may demand.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. A foot board comprising a unitary floor member, said floor member having a plurality of slots formed therein, each slot having an enlarged portion, a flexible plate secured to the board and coverin the slots and the enlarged portions therein, and a plurality of slits formed in thev p1ate, each slit aligning with the slots and the enlarged portions of the slots.

2. A foot board for automobiles and the like comprising a unitary floor member, said floor member having three interspaoed slots formed therein, the two exterior slots enlarged at their upper ends and the center slot enlarged intermediate its ends, and a rubber plate secured to the plate and forming a covering for said slots,*saiid rubber plate having a plurality of slits formed therein, each aligning with a slot and the enlarged portions of the slots. i

In testimony wherof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. 1

CLARON MELDRUM. 

